] 

1 

JEGENNINGS  WORK 
:N  C^OSTA  RICA 

CENTRAL  AMERICA 

WOMEN’S  B’APTIST  H'O’ME 
MISSION  SOCIETY 

' ^ I'l' i' 


BEGINNINGS  OF  WORK 
IN  COSTA  RICA 

CENTRAL  AMERICA 


CHICAGO 

WOMEN’S  BAPTIST  HOME  MISSION  SOCIETY 

1904 


SHIPPING  BANANAS. 


COSTA  RICA. 


Costa  Rica  is  a republic  and  the  most  southern  of  the  Cen- 
tral American  states.  It  has  an  area  of  23,000  miles  and  a 
population  of  289,000.  The  majority  of  the  people  are  of 
Spanish  descent,  but  there  are  also  Indians  — some  civilized, 
hut  more  uncivilized  — negroes  and  Chinese. 

The  climate  varies  with  the  elevation,  from  the  tropical  heat 
of  the  coast,  which  is  often  fever  stricken,  to  the  temperate  and 
healthy  air  of  the  plateau  and  the  cold  of  the  mountain  heights. 

Costa  Rica  is  exceedingly  fertile,  its  forests  being  filled  with 
an  immense  variety  of  timber  trees  and  useful  dye-woods,  such 
as  mahogany,  ebony,  India  rubber.  Brazil-wood  and  oak. 
Almost  all  the  fruits  of  the  tropical  and  temperate  zones  are 
found  to  thrive  and  flowering  plants  are  in  rich  profusion. 
Cofifee  is  a staple  cultivated  production  of  the  country.  In  the 
forests  the  wild  animals  of  Central  America  are  numerous  and 
a multitude  of  birds  fill  the  woods.  Reptiles  include  the  alli- 
gator of  the  river,  lizards  and  snakes. 

Costa  Rica  was  one  of  the  first  discovered  portions  of  the 
American  continent.  Columbus  touched  its  shores  on  his  third 
voyage,  and  it  is  probable  that  Spanish  adventurers  established 
themselves  within  it  after  the  fourth  voyage  of  Columbus  in 
1502.  In  1824  Costa  Rica  joined  the  federation  of  Central 
American  states,  but  on  the  dissolution  of  that  union  in  1839, 
became  an  independent  republic.  Internal  disturbances  and 
overturning  of  the  government  have  been  less  common  in  Costa 
Rica  than  in  other  states  of  Central  America,  and  its  progress 
has  been  correspondingly  greater. 

Of  the  cities  and  towns  in  Costa  Rica  the  one  in  which  we 
are  just  now  most  interested  is  Port  Limon,  a view  of  one  sec- 


3 


VIEW  OF  A PORTION  OF  PORT  LIMON,  COSTA  RICA. 


tion  of  which  is  seen  in  the  cut  with  the  location  of  the  Baptist 
mission  buildings,  missionaries’  home,  chapel,  and  school. 

With  the  exception  of  Colon  and  Panama,  Limon  is  the  most 
important  port  of  Central  America.  It  is  a great  shipping 
point.  The  chief  exports  are  bananas  and  coffee,  and  some 
rfibber,  cocoanuts,  cocoa  beans,  pineapples  and  bides.  There 
is  a regular  weekly  fruit  boat  service  from  Limon  to  New 
Vork,  Boston,  Mobile  and  New  Orleans,  also  to  England  and 
different  points  of  the  West  India  Islands. 

Limon  has  a population  of  six  thousand.  The  largest  per 
cent  is  Jamaican  negroes,  a few  Spanish  Costa  Ricans,  also 
quite  a number  of  white  people  from  the  LMited  States  and 
England.  Nearly  all  of  the  white  men  are  employed  by  the 
United  Fruit  or  railway  companies. 

Limon  is  practically  an  English  speaking  town  in  a foreign 
country.  It  is  a beautiful  little  place.  The  trees  and  the  foliage 
are  indeed  grand. 

The  most  progressive  industry  is  that  of  the  banana  grow- 
ing. This  is  carried  on  chiefly  by  an  American  company,  the 
LTited  Fruit  Company.  They  have  thousands  of  acres  grow- 
ing in  the  rich  valley  of  Costa  Rica  near  Limon. 


4 


MR.  AND  MRS.  WITT  AND  FAMILY. 


THE  BAPTIST  MISSION, 

The  Baptist  mission  in  Pont  Limon  is  in  charge  of  Rev. 
Stephen  Witt,  nobly  assisted  by  his  wife,  who,  in  1895,  gradu- 
ated from  the  Baptist  Missionary  Training  School  as  Edith 
Wooliams. 

The  mission  was  inaugurated  and  is  supported  by  the 
Jamaica  Baptist  Missionary  Society  — to  our  view  a remark- 
able organization  whose  aim  is  thus  defined : 

" The  objects  of  this  Society  are  to  provide  for  the  spiritual 
destitution  of  various  parts  of  the  island,  to  support  the  Calabar 
Institution  for  the  training  of  ministers  and  teachers,  to  assist 
day  and  Sunday  schools,  to  send  the  gospel  to  Africa  and 
Central  America,  and  to  the  islands  by  which  we  are  sur- 

S 


rounded,  and  to  aid  the  Jamaica  Baptist  Union  in  its  building 
operations.” 

\Miile  INIrs.  Witt  is  fully  competent  to  do  the  work  of  a 
missionary,  she  is  the  mother  of  several  small  children,  and 
must  necessarily  devote  much  time  and  strength  to  the  care  of 
her  home  and  family,  and  both  she  and  her  husband  had  prayed 
and  hoped  for  the  aid  of  at  least  one  lady  missionary  untram- 
meled by  such  duties. 

While  in  the  United  States  and  on  their  way  back  to  Costa 
Rica,  they  attended  the  Saturday  evening  prayer  meeting  at  the 
Training  School,  spoke  of  their  field  and  need,  and  asked  the 
}Oung  women  in  the  school  to  pray  with  them  that  the  Lord 
would  give  them  the  helper  they  needed  and  provide  means  for 
her  support,  both  of  which  were  beyond  the  power  of  the 
Jamaica  society  to  supply. 


MISS  KATHERINE  ELLIS. 
6 


The  appeal  so  touched  the  heart  of  Miss  Katherine  Ellis,  a 
student  who  was  present,  that  she  was  led  to  offer  herself 
for  the  service  if  she  could  receive  an  appointment  and  support. 
It  was  at  first  suggested  that  Central  America  was  outside  the 
territory  in  which  the  Women's  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society 
could  operate,  but  that  objection  satisfied,  after  a most  careful 
discussion  of  the  matter,  the  Board  voted  to  commission  Miss 
Ellis  and  ask  young  ladies  in  our  Baptist  Churches  to  contribute 
toward  her  support.  Miss  Ellis  graduated  in  June,  1903.  Dur- 
ing the  fall  she  attended  associations,  and  visited  churches, 
mainly  in  Iowa,  speaking  of  her  prospective  work,  and  Novem- 
ber 1st  reached  Port  Limon,  ready  for  work. 

To  Mrs.  Witt  we  were  indebted  for  much  helpful  information 
in  regard  to  necessary  preparations,  time  for  sending  the  mis- 
sionary to  the  field,  precautions  looking  to  the  preservation  of 
her  health,  etc.,  and  cjuote  here  a brief  extract  from  one  letter 
in  which  she  says ; 

“ We  always  look  forward  to  September  as  the  beginning 
of  our  best  season.  From  then  on  to  April  the  weather  is 
usually  fine  and  healthful.  That  will  be  the  best  time  to  come, 
and  then  you  will  get  partly  acclimated  before  the  trving  part 
of  the  year.  Of  course  there  is  more  or  less  variation  in  the 
years,  and  sometimes  we  have  a very  hot  spell  after  the  coming 
of  September,  accompanied,  it  may  be,  with  a few  cases  of 
yellow  fever. 

'■  W e have  no  winter,  but  occasionally  a few  weeks  of  nice, 
cool  breezes,  and  during  the  rainy  season  require  one  or  more 
blankets  on  the  bed,  especially  toward  morning,  when  it  gets 
cool  and  damp.  As  a rule  the  weather  is  hot,  clear,  and  bright, 
with  blue  skies  and  flowers  all  the  year  round.  I heard  one 
remark,  ‘ One  can  hardly  imagine  there  can  be  malaria  in  this 
beautiful  air.’  ” 


7 


THE  BAPTIST  MISSION  HOUSE  IN  PORT  LIMON,  COSTA  RICA. 
The  Hume  of  the  Missionaries. 


MISS  ELLIS’  FIRST  MESSAGE. 


In  her  first  letter  Miss  Ellis  wrote  of  her  confirmed  con- 
viction that  she  had  obeyed  the  leading  of  the  Lord  in  going 
to  Port  Limon,  which  she  found  to  be  a very  needy  field,  and 
white  for  the  harvest.  She  wrote : 

“As  I call  in  the  homes  I am  always  greeted  with  loving 
appreciation,  and  sometimes  with  tears,  by  the  Christians,  who 
say:  ‘ We  have  prayed  so  long  for  some  one  to  come  and  help 
us.’  The  women  and  children  are  all  willing  to  work  and  help 
in  any  way  they  can.  They  only  seem  to  need  some  one  to 
suggest  what  to  do,  and  to  show  them  how  to  do  it. 

“ Mrs.  Witt  had  been  going  over  to  the  day  school  to  teach 
the  girls  sewing  for  a little  while  each  day,  but  in  that  way  wa; 
could  not  come  in  touch  with  them  for  the  spiritual  work  as  we 
wished  to  do,  so  we  have  organized  a regular  industrial  school. 
One  of  the  women  came  to  help  me,  and  w^e  cleaned  the  old 
school  building.  W e put  up  some  of  the  pictures  from  the  rolls 
given  me  by  a lady  in  Chicago,  and  we  have  cjuite  a cheerful 
room.  Last  w^eek  w^e  had  fifty-three  children  and  four  helpers, 
and  w^e  had  such  a nice  time.  I do  feel  that  we  are  going  to 
have  great  blessings  in  our  work  here. 

“ One  woman  on  whom  I called  has  been  led  to  the  Lord. 
Her  daughter  was  in  the  choir,  and  the  w^oman  wdio  calls  wdth 
me  had  gone  with  me  to  the  home.  She  is  the  mother  of  nine 
children,  but  has  never  been  married,  and  oh,  she  had  such  an 
unhappy  look.  She  realized,  after  some  teaching,  that  she  w'as 
a sinner  — lost  — and  what  a joy  it  was  to  point  her  to  the  One 
who  could  say,  ‘Thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee.’  AVe  liad  the  as- 
surance that  she  w’as  forgiven  and  saved  before  we  left  the 
house.  She  has  come  to  the  church  and  joined  the  Inquirer's 
Class,  and  we  hope  that  she  will  be  led  on  to  baptism,  church 
membership  and  pure  Christian  living.  You  have  no  idea  how 
many  of  these  women  are  living  just  such  lives  as  she  did. 
Please  pray  for  the  women. 


9 


“ I have  organized  a Junior  Society,  and  have  ten  members; 
have  also  organized  a Woman’s  Sewing  Society,  and  hope  to 
soon  have  a What  I can  Society  for  the  young  girls.  There  are 
a number  who  have  recently  been  converted,  but  have  had  no 
training.  I think  this  will  be  a good  way  to  teach  them  to 
study  and  to  work.” 

Wages  are  low  and  rents  are  high,  so  the  poor  people 
literally  huddle  in  their  homes.  iNIiss  Ellis  writes:  “ One  family 
I visit  lives  in  a room  thirteen  feet  square  and  without  a 
window.  The  family  consists  of  father,  mother  and  four  grown 
children  — two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Is  it  strange  that 
among  these  people  there  is  much  sickness  and  a low  standard 
of  morality?  By  way  of  commendation  it  may  be  said  that 
most  of  the  women  try  to  keep  their  rooms  clean. 

“ The  women  are,  commonly,  vain,  jealous  and  quarrelsome, 
and  I often  get  almost  discouraged  in  trying  to  work  for  the 
girls.  But  they  are  in  their  way  very  religious.  My  heart 
ached  on  Good  F riday  when  I saw  the  women  and  girls  coming 
out  dressed  in  mourning,  because,  as  they  said.  Jesus  died  for 
us.  They  have  no  true  conception  of  what  that  death  really 
means.  In  the  afternoon  I held  a children's  meeting  and  some 
of  the  children  came  in  mourning.  I pray  God  to  bless  the  lesson 
I taught  them.  I am  getting  more  and  more  children  each 
week  and  their  interest  is  growing.  The  work  is  hard  but  en- 
couraging in  many  ways.  Alany  of  the  young  Christians  are 
developing  into  good  workers.  The  Sewing  Schools  are  well 
attended  and  the  girls  are  interested  in  the  work  given  them  to 
do.  I pray  for  an  associate  in  this  work.  There  is  so  much 
to  do.” 


lO 


SCENE  ON  BANANA  FARM. 


XI 


JAMAICAN  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  LIMON,  COSTA  RICA. 

LIGHT  AND  SHADE  IN  COSTA  RICA. 

In  the  summer  of  1904  Miss  Ellis  was  stricken  with  yellow 
fever  and  for  a time  was  quite  ill.  Recovering  sufificiently  to 
travel  she  reached  Chicago,  August  5th,  for  a season  of  recu- 
peration. She  had  already  benefited  by  the  sea  voyage,  and 
was  sanguine  that  a few  weeks’  rest  would  quite  restore  her. 
The  Beard  will  probably  send  an  associate  worker  with  her  when 
she  shall  return,  as  they  do  not  think  it  well  for  a woman  to  be 
alone  under  the  conditions  in  which  the  work  must  be  done  in 
Costa  Rica.  Miss  Ellis  came  home  with  regret,  as  she  felt  that 
she  was  just  getting  to  where  results  began  to  appear.  The 
people  were  loath  to  see  her  leave,  even  for  a time,  and  said 
they  would  pray  for  her  return. 

Just  before  her  illness.  Miss  Ellis  wrote  quite  fully  of  her 
work  as  it  had  then  developed. 


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]\Iy  work  is  among"  the  Jamaican  negroes,  in  connection  with 
the  Baptist  church  here,  and  all  is  carried  on  in  English.  We 
have  a splendid  church  building,  all  paid  for,  but  it  is  not  yet 
seated.  We  have  only  benches  from  the  old  church,  and  not 
enough  of  them  to  seat  the  congregation  on  special  days. 

Nearly  all  of  the  Jamaican  men  work  on  the  banana  farms. 
Many  of  them  live  on  the  farms,  but  a large  proportion  of  the 
families  live  in  the  towns.  The  average  laborer  receives  about 
ijd  colons, equal  to  seventy  cents  in  gold, per  week.  You  wonder 
how  they  manage  to  live  on  such  a small  sum  when  everything 
is  so  high.  The  tenant  houses  here  are  all  low,  flat  buildings 
with  galvanized  iron  roofs,  divided  into  rooms  about  ten  or 
twelve  feet  square,  with  board  partitions  which  seldom  extend 
more  than  half-way  to  the  roof.  These  small  rooms  rent  tor 
about  ten  or  twelve  colons  ( $4.65  to  $5.60).  These  are  occu- 
pied by  two  or  three  men  or  families.  I find  sometimes  families 
of  from  five  to  eight  persons  living  in  one  of  these  rooms. 


BETTER  CLASS  TENANT  HOMES  IN  TOWN. 


’■3 


They  live  very  simply.  Salt  fish,  rice,  yam,  and  plantin  is  the 
staple  diet,  and  a cocoaniit  tree  is  to  the  Jamaican  what  the  cow 
would  be  to  the  American  family.  Fruits  could  be  grown  in 
abundance,  but  they  do  not  appreciate  them  as  food.  Most  of 
the  people  are  cleanly,  and  the  women  take  pride  in  keeping 
their  rooms  clean.  It  is  quite  a sight  to  see  a Sunday  congrega- 
tion, many  of  the  men  with  white  coats  and  pants  and  stiffly 
starched  shirts,  and  the  women  with  their  pure  white  starched 
dresses. 

The  condition  of  the  woman  here  is  very  sad,  and  should 
elicit  the  sympathy  of  all  Christians,  and  Christian  women 
especially.  There  is  nothing  a woman  can  do  here  but  wash 
clothes,  and  this  cannot  support  her  respectably.  Many  come 
here  with  good  intentions,  but  soon  go  wrong.  It  is  very 
difficult  to  get  married.  Only  the  Priest  or  Governor  of  the 
Province  can  perform  the  ceremony,  and  this  is  very  expensive. 
For  this  reason  many  live  together  in  concubinage.  Then 
many  of  them  would  prefer  to  live  this  way  than  to  get  married 
without  making  a great  wedding,  as  is  the  custom  among  them. 

xA.nother  great  evil  influence  is  the  idea  every  woman  has 
that  it  is  a disgrace  to  do  honest  work  of  any  kind,  and  their 
pride  demands  clothes  respectable  enough  to  get  out,  and  the 
result  is  that  so  many  are  living  in  sin.  There  is  a great  deal 
of  the  grosser  kind  of  immorality,  but  the  prevailing  form  is 
that  of  concubinage.  Hundreds  of  people  are  living  this  way, 
and  only  a few  are  ntarried.  One  of  the  things  usually  neces- 
sary before  a person  can  join  the  church  here,  is  to  get  married, 
or  to  be  separated  from  her  so-called  “ husband.”  Some  of 
these  live  together  for  years,  and  have  large  families  in  this 
unmarried  condition. 

Quarreling  seems  to  have  a peculiar  charm  for  them.  Some 
will  quarrel  a half-day  over  two  cents.  This  seems  to  be  a gen- 
eral thing,  because  the  pastor  is  constantly  having  to  act  as 
judge  to  settle  family  or  neighborhood  quarrels  among  the 
members  of  the  church.  This  and  superstition  are  the  greatest 
enemies  to  Gospel  work  here.  iMany  of  the  Christians  are  full 


14 


of  it.  One  of  our  members  was  arrested  and  imprisoned  for 
thirty  days  for  “ obea  ” practice.  This  is  much  the  same  as 
old-time  witchcraft,  and  so  many  other  things  of  the  devil  him- 
self. 

Our  work  here  is  hard  in  many  ways,  but  on  the  other  hand 
it  is  very  encouraging'.  Many  of  the  young  Christians  are 
being  developed  into  good  workers,  such  as  local  preachers  and 
Sunday  School  teachers.  There  is  a day  school  held  in  the 
church  for  the  children,  with  a good  Christian  man  as  teacher. 
And  all  the  children’s  work  here  is  very  encouraging.  The 
sewing  schools  are  well  attended,  and  the  girls  are  so  pleased 
with  piecing  up  the  quilt  blocks  that  some  of  the  Circles  are 
sending. 


15 


The  school  at  Calcutta  among  the  coolies  from  East  India 
is  growing  in  interest.  We  sew  one  week  and  read  the  next. 
Some  of  them  did  not  know  their  letters,  others  could  read 
words  with  two  or  three  letters,  and  now  I can  see  a great 
improvement  in  them  all.  They  wanted  to  have  Easter  services, 
so  we  learned  songs  to  sing,  and  some  of  the  children  learned 
pieces  to  speak.  One  little  boy  from  a Christless  home  learned 
a piece  about  “ Jesus  dying  to  save  little  children.”  They  all 
surprised  me  by  learning  them  so  quickly.  We  were  to  have 
it  on  Tuesday  after  Easter,  but  it  rained,  and  we  had  to  post- 
pone it,  and  I expected  they  would  lose  interest  in  it,  but  they 
did  not.  They  came  out  and  dressed  up  the  mission  with 
cocoanut  boughs  and  flowers,  and  all  the  children  were  dressed 
up  in  their  white  frocks  and  ribbons.  Many  of  the  parents  and 
friends  came  out,  and  I believe  we  had  a profitable  service.  W e 
are  trying  to  raise  enough  money  to  get  a blackboard  to  use 
in  our  meetings  there. 

In  our  children's  meetings  in  Limon  there  seems  to  be  a 
lively  interest.  In  our  temperance  meetings  we  had  about 
twenty  to  sign  the  pledge.  In  one  of  these  meetings  a large  boy 
stood  up  and  said  he  wanted  to  be  a Christian,  and  said  with 
God’s  help  he  would  never  touch  liquor  of  anv  kind.  In  a few 
weeks  he  went  back  to  Jamaica.  Before  he  left,  he  came  to  me 
and  asked  me  to  have  all  the  Juniors  pray  for  him,  that  he  might 
be  a true  Christian  boy.  All  the  Junior  meetings  are  well  at- 
tended. Our  Sunday  School  is  well  organized.  I have  charge  of 
the  primary  department,  and  we  have  an  average  of  about  forty- 
five  in  this  department.  Such  bright  little  faces,  and  they  are 
so  interested  in  the  life  of  Jesus.  I have  five  teachers  helping 
me,  and  sometimes  they  give  the  lesson  to  the  whole  school. 
We  review  every  Sunday,  and  many  of  them  know  all  the  texts 
for  the  past  quarter ; many  can  tell  the  stories,  too.  Besides, 
they  have  learned  the  23d  Psalm,  and  now  they  are  learning  the 
fifth  chapter  of  Matthew.  One  little  girl  has  attended  very 
regularly,  and  the  family  were  going  on  a visit  to  Jamaica. 
One  day  I met  her  in  the  market,  and  she  wanted  me  to  come 

16 


and  see  her  mamma.  As  we  were  walking  along,  she  said: 
“'Do  3'ou  know  why  I want  you  to  see  mamma?”  “No.” 
“ Well,  I want  you  to  tell  her  about  Jesus,  and  get  her  to  join 
the  Baptist  church,  for  I want  to  join  when  I get  old  enough, 
and  I love  Jesus  now.”  So  I do  feel  encouraged  with  the  chil- 
dren’s work. 


BAPTIST  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  PASSING  CATHOLIC 
CHURCH,  PORT  LIMON,  COSTA  RICA. 

There  is  the  bright  and  the  dark  side  to  the  house-to-house 
visiting.  There  are  usualh'  so  many  sick  members  that  it  takes 
miost  of  my  time  visiting  them.  It  is  a joy  to  see  how  much  the 
most  of  them  appreciate  a visit  when  they  are  sick.  But  the 
hot  sun  prevents  us  going  out  as  much  as  we  should  like,  and 
I feel  I do  so  little  in  regard  to  making  them  decide  for  Christ, 
but  it  means  a great  deal  to  some  of  them.  They  have  been 
accustomed  all  their  lives  to  having  the  Inquirers’  Class,  which 


17 


is  a very  good  thing  for  these  people,  but  I fear  sometimes  that 
they  have  looked  upon  it  in  the  wrong  light,  because  they  seem 
tc  think  all  that  is  needed  to  become  a Christian  is  to  attend 
the  class,  and  then  join  the  church,  and  it  is  almost  impossible 
to  persuade  thean  that  they  are  saved  by  “ Believing  on  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

We  have  several  awaiting  baptism,  who  will  be  baptized  as 
soon  as  the  new  baptistry  is  completed.  Thirty-six  have  been 
received  into  the  Limon  Church  since  the  new  year,  and  quite 
a number  in  the  churches  up  the  line.  Our  pastor.  Rev.  Stephen 
Witt,  is  an  Englishman.  His  wife  is  a graduate  of  our  Train- 
ing School  in  Chicago.  He  has  charge  of  six  churches  and 
some  out-stations.  He  is  doing  a splendid  work,  and  the 
churches  are  well  organized.  All  of  the  building  funds  have 
been  raised  on  the  field  here,  and  many  of  these  people  really 
love  to  give  to  help  on  God’s  work.  And  to  What  I Can’s  I 
wish  to  say  that  God  is  blessing  your  efforts  put  forth  here,  in 
many  ways.  There  are  many  things  that  I wish  your  prayers 
especially  for.  First,  that  I may  have  the  wisdom  and  the  love 
and  power  of  Christ  to  win  the  many  young  women  of  Limon 
that  are  living  in  sin.  Second,  that  the  children  may  be  con- 
verted and  raised  in  the  fear  and  love  of  God.  Third,  that  we 
may  have  an  outpouring  of  God’s  Spirit  upon  the  Christians, 
that  we  may  see  a revival  that  will  tell  for  God.  Fourth,  that 
the  Lord  may  send  forth  more  men  and  women  unto  these 
darkened  lands  filled  with  the  spirit  of  Christ. 

]\Ir.  Witt  wrote,  after  Miss  Ellis  had  left  the  field : “ First 
let  me  say  how  very  much  we  appreciate  having  IMiss  Ellis  with 
us.  She  has  proven  herself  just  the  right  kind  of  worker 
wanted  for  this  particular  sphere.  Of  her  work  I cannot  speak 
too  highly.  She  has  gained  the  confidence  of  women  and  chil- 
dren and  several  have  testified  that  they  have  been  led  to  the 
Saviour  through  her  instrumentality,  and  in  a host  of  ways  that 
we  cannot  mention  she  has  been  an  influence  in  the  church  and 
school.  I do  hope  you  will  see  your  way  clear  to  send  Miss 
Ellis  back  to  us,  and  another  worker  with  her.’’ 


"■v  - 


ii. 


. vj'  ' 


